A Better Way to Help Patients Navigate Advanced Illness and the End of Life
<p>For people with terminal illness, there is frequently a disconnect between what they say they want as the end nears — to stay home with their loved ones and avoid discomfort — and what they actually receive. For many, it’s a cascade of costly medical interventions to prolong life at any cost, even though the benefits may be negligible. </p><p>A new case study in the Commonwealth Fund’s series <em>Care Models for High-Need, High-Costs Patients </em>examines the potential of the Advanced Illness Management (AIM) program to support patients as they move from intensive curative treatment to end-of-life care. Developed by Sutter Health, a nonprofit integrated delivery system in Northern California, AIM relies on nurses and social workers to engage patients, elicit and document their goals as their needs evolve, and support them in navigating physical and emotional challenges. The program reduces total health care spending by as much as $9,000 per year, per patient, chiefly by reducing acute care use.</p>
<p>Learn how this innovative program works and what policy and payment changes could encourage more providers to invest in advanced illness management.</p>